So What is This About?

Teachers, here you will find classroom lesson plans related to the science and technology of WWII. Social studies and history teachers can use these lessons to imbue science and math into their classrooms. Science and math teachers can use these lessons to bring real-world applications to their theories and concepts. Feel free to adapt these lessons to best suit your classroom needs and environment.

So What is This About?

The D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944, has been called the climatic battle of World War II. It was probably the most carefully planned and executed military operation in history. It consisted of a combined amphibious and aerial assault across the English Channel against the beaches of France, which had been occupied be the German Nazis since 1940. The Supreme Commander of Allied forces was American general (and later president) Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In addition to numerous political and military advisers, Eisenhower was guided in his choice of an invasion time and date by a team of astronomers and meteorologists. Why was their advice important?

The Phases of the Moon

Part I of this exercise dealt with the timing of the invasion and the phases of the moon. If you worked through that exercise you probably concluded that the invasion would best be accompanied by a full moon, which, in fact, it was. There was another factor, however, perhaps more important that the phases of the moon, namely, the tides.

So What is This About?

Two similar but different technological advances that figured prominently in the Allied victory in World War II were radar and sonar, both techniques for detecting the location and speed of enemy aircraft or submarines.